Earth Garden welcomed back to its roots in New Canaan

Jarret Liotta

Published 10:26 pm, Thursday, March 27, 2014

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Nancy Whitehurst, store manager, and Kyle Riccoboni, creative director, are thrilled to be seeing new and returning customers in New Canaan now that Earth Garden has moved back and is now open at 89 Elm St. Jarret Liotta/For the New Canaan News

Nancy Whitehurst, store manager, and Kyle Riccoboni, creative director, are thrilled to be seeing new and returning customers in New Canaan now that Earth Garden has moved back and is now open at 89 Elm St.

Wiltonite Annie Pratt of Wilton, on the New Canaan border, has been a loyal Earth Garden customer for decades. Earth Garden recently opened at 89 Elm St., New Canaan.
Jarret Liotta/For the New Canaan News

Wiltonite Annie Pratt of Wilton, on the New Canaan border, has been a loyal Earth Garden customer for decades. Earth Garden recently opened at 89 Elm St., New Canaan.
Jarret Liotta/For the New Canaan News

Photo: Contributed

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Earth Garden, owned by Nancy Gorkin, has moved into the town-owned space at 89 Elm St., New Canaan, the former location of Crumbs.
Jarret Liotta/For the New Canaan News

Earth Garden, owned by Nancy Gorkin, has moved into the town-owned space at 89 Elm St., New Canaan, the former location of Crumbs.
Jarret Liotta/For the New Canaan News

Photo: Contributed Photo, Contributed

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The signature center table at Earth Garden, 89 Elm St., New Canaan, features a fresh change of flowers and color each day.
Jarret Liotta/For the New Canaan News

The signature center table at Earth Garden, 89 Elm St., New Canaan, features a fresh change of flowers and color each day.
Jarret Liotta/For the New Canaan News

Photo: Contributed Photo, Contributed

Earth Garden welcomed back to its roots in New Canaan

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The town of New Canaan has spoken -- and continues to speak -- about its prodigal florist, Earth Garden.

The local favorite for floral items and horticulture has returned, following a six-year absence, aided by the support of many residents. In November, it was able to open downtown after securing a lease for the town-owned building at 89 Elm St.

"It's kind of like we've gone in full circle," said owner Nancy Gorkin, who originally took over the business with partners at its former Route 123 location back in 1991, when the shop was four years old.

In 2007, Earth Garden opened a facility in Wilton, which Earth Garden will continue to use as a receiving space and production facility. "We have a greenhouse and probably a 750-square-foot work area, with design tables and a flower cooler," Gorkin said.

The new store is a fragrant and inviting place, featuring a grand central display that gets refreshed every day.

"Is this not a happy shop?" said customer Annie Pratt, who lives on the Wilton-New Canaan line and has frequented the shop for years in all its locations.

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"It's more than a regular florist shop," she said. "It's kind of like you would dream it if you had a greenhouse attached to your house. This is what you'd like it to be like."

Store manager Nancy Whitehurst said the store has received a "really warm response from the community. People will say the store really draws them in."

Gorkin, who studied horticulture in her native Michigan, said part of what makes Earth Garden different is a philosophy focused on natural beauty.

"We don't use anything that nature doesn't lend itself to," she said. For example, none of the flowers will be dyed, nor will colors of supportive material be in conflict with the arrangements.

"There's a lot of horticultural knowledge that goes into it, and knowledge of the environment, that goes into everything we do," she said.

One demonstration is the large pot displays, which Gorkin said become mini ecosystems in their own right because of the care her eco-artists take in making cohesive creations.

With the help of a handful of customers, who wrote letters on her behalf, Gorkin successfully lobbied for the location freed up by the departure of Crumbs. Along with presenting a business plan that had a more lucrative offer for the town than other chain stores that were involved in the bidding, Earth Garden was able to move in quickly, just two weeks after Gorkin was handed the keys Nov. 5.

Now Gorkin is enjoying the pleasure of again seeing families of teenagers who were working in the store years ago.

"It's been my homecoming, you could say. It feels great."

The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For information, visit earthgardenflowers.com or 203-966-5673.